Heralded Bulls rookie Derrick Rose grew up in Englewood, the same rough South Side neighborhood in which Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were shot to death last week. Hudson's 7-year-old nephew later was found dead not far away.

Mike Nadel

Heralded Bulls rookie Derrick Rose grew up in Englewood, the same rough South Side neighborhood in which Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Hudson's mother and brother were shot to death last week. Hudson's 7-year-old nephew later was found dead not far away.

"Oh, that was so terrible," Rose said Tuesday before he made his pro debut. "I felt so bad for her."

Of Englewood, he said: "It's crazy over there. I pray every day that nothing's going to happen to my family. Hopefully, they'll have more police and squad cars in the neighborhood now."

Rose starred at Simeon High School before spending one year in college at Memphis. He was drafted by the Bulls with the No. 1 pick last June.

Familiar Faces

While most eyes were on local kid Rose, a lineup that included three heroes from the Bulls' most recent playoff teams led the team on a 16-6 run to end the third quarter, giving the Bulls a 82-75 lead. They never trailed again.

Kirk Hinrich, who lost his starting job to Rose, had five points and two assists during the run. Ben Gordon, a starter when the Bulls went to the playoffs in 2006 and 2007 but now a reserve, had five points. And fan favorite Andres Nocioni, a valuable contributor from 2004-07 who struggled last season, had two rebounds and provided his trademark manic
hustle.

The Quote

"People on the block used to take off work and watch the games. Everybody used to be in my living room watching the games and going crazy for the Bulls when they won. All I remember is people running outside celebrating." - Derrick Rose on
his recollections of the Michael Jordan-led Bulls championship teams of the late-1990s. Rose was 9 when the Bulls captured their last title in 1998.